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Nursing is alive and well at NMC
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Posted on Jun 16 2004
This 2004 spring graduation the nursing program graduated 12 students. Next year we anticipate 14-15, and this fall we expect about 40 students to enter the program. No more small classes. Our successful graduates who pass NCLEX-RN will be able to practice nursing in any state or territory in the Union. The program is experiencing growing pains. We’ve grown out of our little rooms and not having enough instructors are major problems, but because nurses are used to doing a lot with less we are going to make do and not deny the students who have worked long and hard the opportunity to make their dreams come true.
Why would anyone want to become a nurse? I can think of a couple good reasons- the first being flexible hours. Although working weekends and nights might be unappealing to some it is a blessing to others. If you have children, for example, you can stay home with them during the week while your partner works saving the cost of day care and then work evenings or nights and weekends when nurses make more money while your partner takes a turn at child care.
The second reason is good pay. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RN’s; make anywhere between $32,000 and $64,000 per year; hospital nurses average $46,000, according to respondents to the 2001 salary survey.
Another reason is career flexibility. Over the course of your nursing career, you can work in many different settings and positions. You may move from medical/surgical nursing to management- to critical care. New areas for nursing are space nursing and a real challenge is to work in a war zone area and care for people on both sides needing your skills and compassion.
The whole world is open before you if you are prepared. A lot of students in the CNMI are listening to the call and responding. You are invited.
